Waiting list money diverted to tackle health deficit, confirms minister

The health minister says that over £70m of money to tackle waiting lists is instead being used "against the deficit"

A third of the £215m pledged to tackle Northern Ireland's hospital waiting lists has been diverted to deal with the Department of Health's (DoH) massive deficit, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has confirmed.

During a debate on cancer waiting times in the assembly, the minister said more than £70m had been used to help tackle budget difficulties.

The DoH had faced a deficit of £600m and has been reducing that figure through efficiencies.

The minister was questioned about the waiting list money by the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) health spokesperson Diane Dodds.

"I have also been informed that £73.5m has now been taken away from waiting list initiatives and has been allocated to the deficit," she said.

MLAs deserved a "straight answer on this very important question", Dodds said.

"It is incredible to think that money designed to tackle the most appalling waiting lists could be used in this way."

DUP MLA Diane Dodds says "it is incredible to think that money designed to tackle the most appalling waiting lists could be used in this way"

Responding to the debate, Nesbitt said the "paperwork" around the money earmarked to tackle waiting lists detailed that it was "up to £215m" and there was the possibility of part of it being spent in other areas.

"It was broken down into three pots - £85m for red flag and urgent, £80m to build capacity and £50m to tackle the waiting lists," he said.

"And only that £50m was new, the other money was ring-fenced. But the £80m for building capacity... it was made clear by the Department of Finance from the get-go that that was not ring-fenced and that they would look at alternative uses if we didn't feel that we could spend it in a timely manner in this financial year, or that there was something even more significant to be done.

"The really significant thing... is the existing gap (budget deficit) which we have down from £600m to a lot lower than that, but I still have very real concerns that we will not balance the budget by the 31 March (2026).

"So, she is right to say that over £70m of that £80m is going against the deficit."

Waiting lists at all-time high

More than half a million people have been on lists to have their first consultation with a specialist

Tackling hospital waits was highlighted as a priority in the NI Executive's Programme for Government with up to £215m earmarked for elective care initiatives in this financial year.

The waiting lists have been at an all-time high with some specialities recording the highest number of patients and waits across the UK.

More than half a million people have been on lists to have their first consultation with a specialist.

In July, a senior surgeon appointed to tackle NI waiting lists said the delays were "nothing short of a national shame".

Prof Mark Taylor acknowledged it would be a "long-term challenge", but said he would work "tirelessly" with his health service colleagues to turn things around.

As Clinical Director for Elective Care, his appointment is the first time someone has been directly tasked with tackling the problem.

Nesbitt told assembly members there had been some improvements on hospital waiting lists, but acknowledged there was more still to be done.